Chapter 427: Chapter 427
The Tai Xu Celestial Physique, like the Universe Celestial Physique, Eternal Radiance Celestial Physique, and Creation Celestial Physique, was among the most superior bone structures.
Although it didn’t grant unique mystical Daoist abilities in the Upper Three Heavens Realm like the Pure Yang Celestial Physique, Pure Yin Celestial Physique, Tai Ting Celestial Physique, or Two-Element Celestial Physique, the Tai Xu Celestial Physique still possessed its own unique wonders.
One of its most remarkable features was that those who bore this physique were innately difficult to detect by others.
Like now—for example, that girl appeared to have only the most basic Qi Refining cultivation, but even with the spiritual awareness and soul perception of Lei Jun and Master Zongga of the Vajra Division of Mount Sumeru, they could only faintly sense something unusual about her at first.
Even experts like Lei Jun, at the Ninth Heaven Realm, when deliberately focusing with utmost attention, couldn’t fully discern the truth in their first glance.
Lei Jun had to recall ancient records about the Tai Xu Celestial Physique before he could guess the reason right away.
Had it been someone with a slightly lower cultivation level, not only would they have failed to see through her, they wouldn’t even have noticed anything strange from the start.
At the moment, her own cultivation was low, and her figure stood plainly in the sight of Lei Jun and Zongga.
But if her cultivation were closer to theirs, even Lei Jun might have overlooked her presence entirely.
In situations where the difference in cultivation was not large, even techniques like the Outer Binding Seal and Inner Binding Seal of the Buddhist Hand Seal Lineage, or the “Yi” of the Fourth Layer of Ninth Heaven Confucian Classics Scholars, might fail to detect her.
Martial experts, while less skilled at outward probing, were extremely sensitive to ambushes.
But a cultivator with the Tai Xu Celestial Physique had a lower chance of being noticed, even when launching a sneak attack, than others of the same level.
This lottery result, while unexpected, certainly did not disappoint the Tianshi Lei.
Li Tianqing, hidden beneath his Fangxiang Mask, turned to look at Lei Jun.
At this moment, he was trying to shut the Void Gateway, while the opposing Zongga, Master of the Vajra Division of the Former Song Mortal Realm, was stabilizing it.
Now, someone was arriving through the gateway, heading for the Earth Sea.
If Zongga stopped and Li Tianqing didn’t, those few Former Song survivors would be consumed by the twisted void.
“It's a karmic connection too. Let them enter Earth Sea,” said Lei Jun.
Li Tianqing gave a slight nod. “No danger at the moment.”
His forty-nine talismans were already prepared but hadn’t yet been activated. Li Tianqing understood Lei Jun must also be waiting for someone.
Most likely, it was Tang Xiaotang, another Great Ascension Realm True Daoist of Mount Longhu's Tianshi Mansion.
Although there was still the looming threat of the Golden Khan Ongqinfu, seeing Lei Jun so composed, Li Tianqing simply nodded and did nothing further, maintaining the gateway’s stability.
This balance of strength was delicate.
Li Tianqing’s slight pause immediately gave Zongga on the other side an opening.
The Intelligent Fist Seal used to stabilize the portal also disrupted Li Tianqing’s Ghost-God Ritual Array.
Clouds surged in Earth Sea.
The ritual array of Nine Songs: Lord in the Clouds immediately showed signs of cracking.
Zongga was no ordinary opponent. Though Li Tianqing’s array disrupted time and space, the gap in their realm made all the difference in a clash between experts.
A crack appeared on the Fangxiang Mask covering Li Tianqing’s face.
Yet his eyes remained calm as ever.
A moment later, an invisible yet powerful heartbeat echoed.
The Divine Dance Lineage's Ninth Heaven Second Layer Descending Spirit Great Shaman, unleashed the power of his Array Core.
With its pulse, an immense vitality burst forth—not just revitalizing himself but also rejuvenating the ritual array.
The previously cracked Nine Songs: Lord in the Clouds Array instantly restored to full form, as if reborn anew.
The slight advantage Zongga had taken was erased. The two sides returned to a stalemate.
The Earth Sea Portal trembled slightly, but remained stable, not affecting the passing Former Song survivors.
Once those people stumbled into Earth Sea, Li Tianqing suddenly let out a soft “Hm?”
As a Ninth Heaven Realm Divine Dance Shaman, his spiritual senses were extremely sharp—he’d also noticed the girl’s strangeness.
Lei Jun gave him a subtle nod and sent out a wisp of mana, turning it into white mist that swept up the Former Song survivors, transporting them to a safe place away from the unstable void.
Seeing this, Li Tianqing realized something was indeed off about the girl, but nothing dangerous.
He also understood—Lei Jun had noticed her anomaly even earlier.
Li Tianqing appreciated talent too.
But seeing the situation now, he wouldn’t compete with Lei Jun. Under the Fangxiang Mask, he smiled. “Congratulations, Tianshi Lei.”
Lei Jun replied, “All due to karmic fate. Thank you, Layman Li.”
As the two exchanged words, Lei Jun’s expression subtly shifted.
Someone else had arrived in the Former Song Mortal Realm.
Li Tianqing also sensed the change.
So did Zongga. His attention faltered.
On the other side of the Earth Sea Portal, deep within the Former Song's underground chasm, a pale gold flame suddenly lit up beside the crimson Buddhist light from Zongga.
A black-robed, white-garbed Daoist descended from the sky, slamming a palm straight at Zongga’s head.
Zongga had long heard of this Pure Yang Palace Supreme Elder, who had recently resurfaced and operated in the Former Song realm.
Zheng Chen was also a Ninth Heaven Realm True Daoist.
Zongga divided his attention, still focusing on the Void Gateway.
He flew off from his Amitabha Peacock Seat, simultaneously suppressing the Earth Sea Portal's fluctuations and directing the peacock seat to intercept Zheng Chen.
Zheng Chen didn’t hold back—one hand in a combat stance, the other stretched forward, concentrating Pure Yang True Fire at a single point on his extended index finger.
This was Extreme Yang Vital Qi, the offensive essence of the Pure Yang Mother Fist, Pure Yang Palace’s top art.
At that point of contact, the Amitabha Peacock Seat, previously rising in a brilliant red arc, was halted in its tracks.
Zongga kept his Intelligent Fist Seal with one hand to stabilize the portal, while the other formed the Great Vajra Wheel Seal, reinforcing the Peacock Seat to fend off Zheng Chen.
At the same time, he stayed on high alert.
Zongga hadn’t gone all out—his other great treasure, the Indigo Vajra Pestle, remained unused.
He was wary of Tang Xiaotang from Mount Longhu or some other hidden foe.
Since being ambushed by a Kongsang Grand Shaman and losing the trail of Li Yuanheng, Tang Xiaotang had rarely appeared in the Former Song Realm.
Still, Zongga didn’t relax.
He believed the Tianshi Mansion hadn’t sealed the Earth Sea Portal out of concern for the Former Song survivors alone.
Most likely, someone like Tang Xiaotang was still coming and going.
Compared to Zheng Chen, Zongga feared Tang Xiaotang more.
A vast sea of Pure Yang surged before him.
Not just True Fire, but also boundless Pure Yang Celestial Thunder!
Amidst lightning and flame, a colossal Divine Vessel appeared, cast entirely of pure gold, slamming down toward the Amitabha Peacock Seat, then bearing down on Zongga himself!
At the helm of the ship stood Zheng Chen… or so it seemed.
But in the next instant, his form blurred.
The black-and-white Daoist robes turned into Purple-Gold, the Daoist Headscarf turned into a Daoist Crown.
A tall female cultivator appeared before Zongga—who else but Tang Xiaotang?
Translation continues in the next message due to length.
(Continuation of the translation)
“This feels fantastic!” Tang Xiaotang laughed heartily, standing at the bow of the Pure Yang Vessel, pressing down on Zongga and ramming directly into the Earth Sea Portal!
“You… Zheng Chen from the Pure Yang Palace in this realm was you all along?!”
As the thought flashed through Zongga’s mind, he urgently raised another great treasure of the Vajra Division—the Indigo Vajra Pestle.
But as he struck, Tang Xiaotang countered with the swirling power of Ninefold Chaotic Qi and Light, directly tanking the blow.
At the same time, she unsheathed her Tianshi Sword, its light sweeping down toward Zongga, while raging purple thunder cleaved the Amitabha Peacock Seat, hurling it toward the Earth Sea Portal.
The portal, once stabilized by Zongga, suddenly shifted.
A massive suction force erupted from within.
It was clearly the influence of a Great Ascension Realm Daoist of the Talismanic Branch, summoning and seizing from within their Dao Domain.
Besides Tang Xiaotang, there was now another Great Ascension Daoist of the Talismanic Branch within the Earth Sea!
But his mind remained clear and composed.
On his crimson Buddhist body, a vast stretch of colorless, invisible fire suddenly flared to life—this was the formidable Wrathfire of the Wisdom King.
He used it to fend off Tang Xiaotang, while his hands rapidly cycled through mudras.
Nine great hand seals appeared simultaneously, forming into a single Sacred Wheel, which, along with the Amitabha Peacock Seat, descended in an effort to suppress the Earth Sea Portal and nullify the absorption force of the opposing Dao Domain.
Tang Xiaotang, however, chuckled darkly.
The torrent of Pure Yang Thunderfire around her abruptly transformed into a misty, formless aura, directly countering the Wrathfire—formless clashing with formless, both mutually neutralizing.
Simultaneously, the Pure Yang Vessel underwent another transformation.
Centered on the ship, a radiant golden light erupted.
The National Preceptor's Seal on Tang Xiaotang’s waist resonated in harmony with it.
Though not in the Tang Mortal Realm, the golden light still unfolded into a vast and perilous mountain and river landscape.
The Pure Yang Vessel sailed through it unhindered.
Taking advantage of the moment, the enormous Divine Vessel broke through the neutralized Wrathfire and closed in on Zongga.
Because he hadn’t realized that Zheng Chen was actually Tang Xiaotang until it was too late, she had seized the initiative.
And once the lead was taken, the rest followed like falling dominoes.
Zongga tried desperately to regain control, but facing attacks from both front and back, he was ultimately overpowered.
Tang Xiaotang, standing firmly atop the Pure Yang Vessel, rammed directly into Zongga, knocking him into the Earth Sea Portal!
“Layman Li!” Lei Jun called out softly.
Li Tianqing’s reaction was razor-sharp. The moment Lei Jun unleashed his Great Ascension Dao Domain, he had already shifted his formation.
The Ghost-God Ritual Array, once used to close the portal, now transformed in meaning, stabilizing the Earth Sea Portal instead.
Had he been a moment slower, Tang Xiaotang and Zongga’s clash could’ve torn open the void.
Now, Tang Xiaotang stood atop the Pure Yang Vessel, sending Zongga hurtling not only into the Earth Sea—but straight into Lei Jun’s Xuanhuang Universe.
The massive, deep-black sphere—silent as the cosmos—sealed shut in an instant.
Crimson light and golden radiance vanished within.
Lei Jun himself remained outside, not within his Dao Domain.
Since the Battle of Penglai, the fact that the Tianshi of Tang possessed two Great Ascension Domains had become public knowledge.
So, Li Tianqing wasn’t surprised by the sight.
Lei Jun waved his hand, and the forty-nine talismans he had earlier suspended in the air now flashed with light, spinning in unison and affixing themselves to the Earth Sea Portal.
Seeing this, Li Tianqing dismissed his Ghost-God Ritual Array.
The forty-nine talismans, like seals, adhered to the void and began to rotate together, distorting the surrounding space.
The passage between the Earth Sea and Former Song Realm was now sealed.
Before Lei Jun and the others, the underground world returned to silence, enveloped in darkness and black mist.
Hmm. The timing wasn’t just perfect—it was even slightly early... Lei Jun, who had been closely monitoring the time, gave a nod of approval.
At that very moment, in the Former Song Realm, within the lightless domain of Jingxiang, an already collapsed chasm crumbled further.
No longer illuminated by crimson Buddhist light or golden flame, it returned to utter blackness—one couldn’t see a hand in front of one’s face.
And outside that subterranean abyss, it was now the zenith of noon.
Suddenly, the entire world seemed to tremble.
Without warning, a colossal figure appeared above the lightless region.
It was a massive demonic tiger, horned and towering like a mountain.
The aura of bloodthirst and malevolence it exuded nearly suffocated all nearby life.
Once, the destruction of this very mountain and river region had been caused by this fearsome demon tiger and its master.
Now, Hatar was even more powerful than before.
And this was due to its master.
A lean but sharp middle-aged man stood upon Hatar’s head.
Though the sun was at its zenith, and he was backlit, rendering his face obscure, his presence outshone even the blazing sun.
Intense radiance and heat spread from him like a second sun descending upon the earth.
The flow of spiritual energy throughout the Former Song Realm seemed to shift around him, causing winds and clouds to churn over the land of Jingxiang.
The currents of the earth veins and the shimmer of spiritual light across the sky all converged here.
In this instant, this place became the very center of the Former Song Mortal Realm.
Silently and without a sound, neither the middle-aged man nor the mountain-sized demon tiger beneath his feet made any discernible move, yet the depths of the Youluo Gorge collapsed further, shattering into fragments.
The continuous mountain stones turned to dust, and then as if reduced to nothingness, vanished completely.
If what had come before could be described as fragmented and dispersed, then this was a complete erasure—an entire section wiped clean, not even leaving behind a single shard.
This pitch-dark region was now a massive basin, with daylight reaching even the depths of the earth.
The demon tiger Hata'er and the middle-aged man were now standing at the bottom of the gorge.
The gorge floor appeared utterly barren.
Without the man lifting a finger, the gorge floor began to distort—not due to further crumbling of earth and stone, but because space itself started to ripple and warp, splitting apart.
But in the very next moment, all of it came to a halt.
Because... there was no point.
The rupture in space led not to another world, but to a pure void—a barren emptiness belonging to the domain beyond realms.
The massive body of the demon tiger Hata'er trembled slightly, lowering its head. “Great Khan...”
The man standing atop its head was none other than the resurrected Golden Khan Angqinfu.
His appearance remained impossible for ordinary eyes to see clearly.
Yet it seemed he furrowed his brows ever so slightly.
His eyes remained fixed on the shattered void, silent for a long time.
There had once been a thread of spiritual light there, but it had vanished in the blink of an eye.
The rippling, distorted space soon returned to its original state, revealing again the grey-white bottom of the gorge.
Then, in the blink of an eye, the massive demon tiger and the Golden Khan upon its head disappeared.
Within the Land-Sea, Li Tianqing looked at Lei Jun, somewhat surprised to see him still standing in place.
The forty-nine talismans used to seal the Land-Sea portal were now blazing fiercely, brilliant flames rising before swiftly extinguishing.
Lei Jun stood upright, one hand forming a mudra before his chest, the other raised high with five fingers spread, suspending a glowing orb in midair.
Within that orb was a radiant talismanic blade.
Flames danced along the surface of the blade, just as brilliant.
From Li Tianqing’s perspective, the talismanic blade did not originate from Lei Jun.
It seemed to appear out of thin air, cutting through space to arrive here.
Moments earlier, a flash of blade light had flickered in the dim void of the Land-Sea before the blade tore through space and descended onto Lei Jun’s head.
Its arrival seemed to sever certain unseen threads.
And as it appeared, the forty-nine sealing talismans ignited.
Lei Jun looked up at the burning talismanic blade above him as it dissolved into void and disappeared, then nodded to Li Tianqing and said:
“This is a technique left behind by our sect’s Senior Sister while she was traveling the former Song realm.”
Li Tianqing mused, “Master Xu, is it? Her name is well-known—truly admirable.”
A cultivator of high attainment and exceptional perception, even though he followed the witch sect’s teachings instead of the Daoist tradition, his insight into time and spatial shifts was profound.
With focused observation and thought, he gradually understood the techniques used by Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen just now.
The number of the Great Evolution is fifty, but one is unused—thus, the number forty-nine.
The transformation of forty-nine always leaves a single thread of fate.
The wondrous talismanic blade left behind in the former Song realm by Xu Yuanzhen had already been coordinated with Lei Jun beforehand.
Now activated by him, the blade pierced the void directly, aligned with Lei Jun’s talisman array, and severed that final thread of chance.
Everything became sealed tight—no further change, no gap left behind.
Thus, even though it was a temporary sealing of the spatial portal, it felt like a complete cut-off.
Even someone like Golden Khan Angqinfu, a martial immortal beyond the Nine Heavens, could no longer trace the path back into the Land-Sea.
The void stretched endlessly—though Angqinfu could travel through space, he now had no way to locate the Land-Sea.
Before casting the spell, Lei Jun had already ceased using the Zhou Heavenly Mirror of Jade Purity to observe the former Song realm, retracting its light.
At present, even he couldn’t say for sure if the plan had succeeded.
He didn’t know if Golden Khan Angqinfu had reached the dark region at noon.
He didn’t know what Angqinfu had done on the other side.
He didn’t know whether Angqinfu had given up.
Having grown used to gathering intelligence from all sides, this sudden blindness felt deeply unfamiliar and unsettling.
But Lei Jun maintained a calm state of mind, taking no reckless chances.
The blade had been drawn over via ritual from the former Song realm—so be it.
But if he had continued observing through the Jade Purity Mirror while casting the spell, it would have projected from the Land-Sea to that realm.
And a being like Angqinfu, already at the immortal threshold, would likely detect it.
Even if it didn’t reveal the exact location of the Land-Sea, Lei Jun was not about to give the enemy even a sliver of a clue.
Now that the talismans and talismanic blade had burned away, and the Land-Sea void remained stable and undisturbed, it could be reasonably confirmed that Golden Khan Angqinfu was successfully shut out in the former Song realm.
Wherever he goes next... that’s his business.
Still in the Land-Sea, Lei Jun focused on maintaining his Great Ascension Dao Domain, coordinating with Little Senior Sister Tang Xiaotang in dealing with the Lotus Division Master Zongjia, while also notifying other relevant parties.
Lastly, his gaze fell on a group of shaken survivors from the former Song realm.
When Lei Jun looked their way, the middle-aged man at their lead forced himself to stay composed and, bringing his family with him, respectfully saluted both Lei Jun and Li Tianqing.
In the former Song realm, the Talismanic Daoist Branch had long been in decline.
But thanks to Zhu Junjie, who had once received help from Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, the name of the Tianshi Mansion of Tang had gained much honor there.
The former Song survivors didn’t recognize Li Tianqing’s attire, but Lei Jun’s nine-colored radiant robe, Primordial Crown, and white jade seal—they knew all too well.
“Citizens of the former Song realm pay respects to the Tianshi of Tang. Boundless blessings and longevity,” the middle-aged man greeted Lei Jun with a solemn bow.
A young girl beside her parents followed suit calmly, not flustered in the slightest.
Though Lei Jun wore a calm expression, the serene and lofty aura of a Daoist high sage he carried brought peace to the hearts of those around him.
The others, seeing this, calmed down and bowed in unison.
Li Tianqing respectfully stepped aside, not approaching.
Lei Jun said little, and simply instructed Zhang Xiongju, who was stationed in the Land-Sea, to escort the Han family to Tang territory.
He made no effort to conceal the truth, telling them directly that the young girl Han Xiaofei possessed a Daoist destiny and might enter the path at Mount Longhu—though the final decision rested with her.
The Han family was stunned, as if a great fortune had fallen from the sky.
From terrifying disaster to immense blessing—the contrast was too overwhelming, leaving them stunned all over again.
Han Xiaofei, though, seemed rather cheerful and was about to accept right away, but after glancing at her family, she held back—clearly wanting to ask her parents first.
Zhang Xiongju was surprised.
Not long ago, he had just escorted Cheng Rongrong to Mount Longhu to begin her Daoist journey.
And now, he was doing it again?
Hmm… could this girl also be a spirit beast in human form?
Was the whole family spirit beasts?
That seemed… a bit off.
Sensing Zhang Xiongju’s odd gaze, Han Xiaofei’s parents grew nervous again.
Zhang Xiongju quickly composed himself and led them out of the Land-Sea.
The black mists of the Land-Sea were harmful to mortals and lower-level cultivators, so Zhang Xiongju used talismanic light to shield them along the way.
That eased the survivors’ minds.
“Did your whole family enter the Land-Sea? Anyone left behind on the other side?” Zhang Xiongju asked along the way.
The man shook his head. “We’re all here. A few families came with us, but they didn’t enter the portal—they should still be in the dark realm. We’ve lost contact with other relatives years ago during the war. They might already…”
Zhang Xiongju nodded. “Don’t worry. If Han Junior Sister joins our sect, you may not enter the mountain, but we have townships and farms at the base of Mount Longhu. You’ll be able to live in peace. She’ll also have chances to visit family.”
After all, the one who had recognized her fate was none other than Sect Master Zhuo himself. If she entered the path, she would likely be the second personal disciple of the Tianshi, after Zhuo Huajie.
Such individuals rarely, if ever, fail the initiation or ordination process.
While her family may not ascend with her, they would surely find a good livelihood at the foot of Mount Longhu.
That’s why Zhang Xiongju explained in detail.
Although, for the moment, he couldn’t see anything particularly remarkable about the future Junior Sister Han…
Wait—where was the girl?
Zhang Xiongju’s heart jolted. “Junior Sister Han?!”
Had she gone missing?!
Then he saw her waving from the back, shouting, “Daoist! Daoist! Are you looking for me?”
Zhang Xiongju looked again—she was just at the rear of the group, chatting with her mother.
He had simply failed to see her because she was short and blocked by others.
…but he was a True Disciple of Mount Longhu with a Middle Three Heavens cultivation.
Han Xiaofei was just laying her foundation in Qi Refining.
There was no way someone like him could miss her presence, not at such close range—even in the black mists.
Was it because of her?
Zhang Xiongju fell into thought, but his face remained calm. “The Land-Sea is vast, and travel takes time. Let’s pick up the pace.”
Behind them in the distance, Lei Jun watched with a smile.
Beside him, Li Tianqing had removed his Fang Xiang mask and smiled. “They say your sect values quality over quantity in personal disciples. That’s clearly true. Congratulations, Tianshi. I’m just left wondering what kind of gift I should prepare.”
Lei Jun: “Your presence as witness is already the best gift.”
Li Tianqing chuckled. “Then it’s settled. I’m a poor man—hope the Tianshi will forgive me.”
Lei Jun laughed too. “May you also find your own successor soon.”
Though he was chatting, Li Tianqing kept most of his focus on Lei Jun’s sealed Great Ascension Dao Domain, and the seemingly tranquil Land-Sea before them.
“Your sect’s method of sealing space is truly exquisite,” he said. “Given what you’ve told me about immortal beings, with so much time passed and Angqinfu still unable to break through, he likely has no more chances. He can’t stay long in the former Song realm either. He must seek another place to settle?”
Lei Jun: “Based on what we know, that’s correct.”
Li Tianqing nodded slightly, turning his gaze from the now-sealed spatial portal to the other directions—toward Guizang, and toward the portal leading directly to the Tang realm.
“If Huangquan, Kongsang, and the former Song’s old path to Youyin have all remained sealed for years, and now the Land-Sea is blocked too… then unless Angqinfu wants to sleep in the void, his only options are Sumeru, Guixu, and the unknown Great Wilderness…”
He added softly, “But if I’m not mistaken, Sumeru, while unable to connect to the Tang realm, is still open to other worlds?”
Lei Jun: “Correct. It links to both the Great Ming and Jinhan realms—the spatial paths are open.”
Li Tianqing didn’t yet know the portals between Guizang and the Ming realm had also opened in secret, but he confirmed Sumeru connected with Jinhan and Datong.
“If Angqinfu is still allied with the Buddhist sects of Sumeru, and wants to avoid conflict, might he travel through Sumeru to Jinhan, and then turn his sights on Datong?”
The Great Wilderness remained uncertain—not necessarily unsuitable for immortals, but likely a last resort for someone like Angqinfu.
Guixu might harbor a beast above the Ninth Heaven, and its relationship with Sumeru seemed ambiguous.
People from the former Song realm often described Golden Khan Angqinfu as domineering and power-hungry—a man of conquest.
Having been blocked in the Land-Sea, it seemed likely he would set his sights on another world connected to Tang.
“There is such a possibility,” Lei Jun replied. “But over in Datong, our sect is prepared.”
After all, Xu Yuanzhen had spent quite a bit of time there.
She had left many arrangements in place before departing.
Xu Yuanzhen was not only powerful and insightful, but her Celestial Physique of the Universe gave her unparalleled sensitivity to spatial changes.
Although none of this had originally been aimed at Angqinfu… not even in the former Song realm.
Angqinfu stepping forward now was essentially helping the other Immortal Realm powerhouses trigger traps first.
“There’s still enough time. The Golden Khan will need to recuperate in Xumi for a while before continuing,” said Lei Jun calmly. “If simply transiting through Xumi could remove the dangers of worldly dispersion, then other Immortal Realm cultivators would’ve long set up relay stations everywhere to move freely between mortal realms.”
Especially that Venerable of Supreme Wisdom, the Wuwang of Kongsang, and that elder of Mount Longhu from the Han Dynasty—judging from their past actions, they’re likely not the type to act rashly.
Though the Golden Khan Angqinfu was still brimming with momentum, before coming to the dark lands of Jingxiang, he had first taken care of the kindred Canglang and Bailu Khanates.
Lei Jun wasn’t yet certain of those two khanates’ current condition, but one thing was clear: the Golden Khan had spent considerable time there—otherwise, there’d have been no need for Lotus Division Master Zongjia to arrive in advance.
He had handled things in the north first, dealing with the Canglang and Bailu Khanates, before making a wasted trip to Jingxiang. And next, he still had to head to the Xumi Portal at the Vajra Monastery of the Song Dynasty in the Western Regions.
Even if the Golden Khan had ascended to the Immortal Realm and could move quickly, it was still teleporting in short hops—he couldn't leap from one end of the world to the other in a single stride.
His time in the mortal realm was already pushing the limits.
To be safe, Yuan Mobai had already quietly departed for Datong.
The setup there wasn’t the same as here in the Earth Sea, but Yuan Mobai had brought along the items left behind by Xu Yuanzhen.
Moreover, if the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom remained in Xumi, would the other division masters of the Xumi Vajra Realm come chasing after Lotus Division Master Zongjia the way they had in the Guixu incident?
If so, there was no need to immediately seal off the portal between the Jinhan Mortal Realm and Datong.
Aside from Yuan Mobai, other experts from the Tang Dynasty were also heading to Datong.
Now that the Empress had returned to the imperial capital Luoyang, her nephew Zhang Hui was starting to stir again.
“Knowing Angqinfu’s style, whether he succeeds or fails, he’ll probably pass through the Jinhan Mortal Realm to reach Datong,” said Lei Jun.
But if that happened, Datong—or even the Tang and Jinhan Mortal Realms—might be forced to sever their ties, which could have broader consequences.
Lei Jun stepped into his Great Ascension Dao Domain: “For now, let’s patch things up a bit.”
Within the vast Xuanhuang Cosmos, Lotus Division Master Zongjia had already been locked in a fierce battle with Tang Xiaotang for some time.
Though he hadn’t fought Lei Jun directly, he could tell this Dao Domain didn’t belong to her.
There were two Ninth-Heaven Talismanic Dao experts here.
Zongjia himself was a Ninth Heaven Perfected Dharma Body Xumi Master, but the fate of Vajra Division Master Jialuotu constantly reminded him to stay on guard.
“Didn’t expect Master Tang to impersonate someone else,” said Zongjia, warily watching both the domain’s true owner and the approaching Tang Xiaotang.
Tang Xiaotang grinned, “It was pretty fun—especially your face just now.”
Zongjia shook his head. He’d clearly stepped into a massive trap this time.
Had Tang Xiaotang revealed her true self from the start, Zongjia would have responded with entirely different tactics.
He might not have had the upper hand, but he would’ve gone all out from the beginning.
Even if she had pushed him away from the Earth Sea portal, he wouldn’t have been forced into such a passive, step-by-step retreat—ultimately getting blasted into someone else’s Great Ascension Dao Domain.
Now, Zongjia had no time to think about whether Angqinfu could make it into the Earth Sea.
The only question that mattered was whether he could get out alive.
“Forgive my ignorance, but I’ve never understood what Master Jialuotu did to offend you or your Mount Longhu Tianshi Mansion, Tang Zhenren, to cause such lasting hostility between us,” said Zongjia, all while scanning the Dao Domain for weak points.
Tang Xiaotang sneered, “You bald thieves think I can’t see through your schemes?”
Zongjia suspected Jialuotu and the Vajra Division might’ve once tried to convert Tang Xiaotang and Lei Jun, but were discovered before they could act.
While internally blaming Jialuotu’s poor planning, he replied solemnly:
“Perhaps Senior Jialuotu did make mistakes, but both he and the Vajra Division have paid the price. Our Lotus Division has no personal feud with your sect—why pursue us so relentlessly?”
Tang Xiaotang slashed down with her sword: “Oh? So you came to the Earth Sea portal to help us stop Angqinfu?”
Zongjia parried the Tianshi Sword with his Indrakila Vajra Scepter, his expression steady: “This poor monk came to support the Golden Khan—and also to aid the Tang Dynasty.
The Earth Sea isn’t Tang territory. Previously, the Jiuli and Tang mortals had many conflicts and bloodshed—they were enemies, not allies. The harsh Earth Sea isn’t suitable for mortals to live in.
Letting the Golden Khan rest here doesn’t cost the Tang Dynasty much. On the contrary, it could turn the Golden Khanate into a Tang ally—a powerful one at that. Isn’t that better than adding another enemy?”
Tang Xiaotang chuckled, “Nice speech. But I’d trust Angqinfu before I trust you.”
As she spoke, her sword’s purple-gold light rained down on Zongjia like a storm.
Zongjia blocked blow after blow with his scepter and sighed, “Since you say so, then I must offend.”
Though Lei Jun hadn’t shown himself within the Xuanhuang Cosmos, Zongjia knew he couldn’t afford to remain trapped here for long.
Flames of Wrathfire of the Wisdom King blazed once more across his Crimson Vajra Body.
He formed the Samādhi Seal with one hand while brandishing the Indrakila Vajra Scepter with the other.
An invisible blade sliced through space, making even the silent, endless cosmos tremble as if wounded.
Xumi Secret Art: Great Wisdom King Divine Blade!
And this time, it was empowered by the Indrakila Vajra Scepter.
But as before, an intangible force appeared in the darkness—initially a single point, but it intercepted the blade’s tip with perfect precision.
That single point erupted and expanded, causing the cosmos itself to fall still.
Even the indomitable Great Wisdom King Divine Blade warped and shuddered in mid-air.
The Wrathfire of the Wisdom King dispersed, unable to hold form or power.
The Indrakila Vajra Scepter faltered in Zongjia’s grip.
Though his Divine Blade lacked the brute force of Jialuotu’s, his technique—enhanced by Insight of Wondrous Observation—was razor sharp and nearly unpredictable.
Yet Tang Xiaotang had countered it perfectly.
In Zongjia’s eyes, he now saw a massive pair of emotionless eyes above Tang Xiaotang’s head—watching him, yet unfocused.
The technique she had just used to clash with his Divine Blade had reached unfathomable heights.
“…You refined the Primordial Qi to this extent?” he muttered. “You’re no longer a Pure Yang Celestial Physique… You’re… the Primordial Dao Body!”
“What a pity,” sighed Tang Xiaotang, “that it’s just you here.”
Golden lightning dragons and emerald flame tigers soared through the cosmos, interweaving into a gold-green Taiji diagram, exploding with blinding light as they blasted at Zongjia’s Amitabha Peacock Throne.
Tang Xiaotang struck Zongjia’s crimson Vajra Body with the Tianshi Sword.
The brilliant red dimmed—threatening to regress to mere gold.
She couldn’t access Profound Darkness Dust or the Twin Poles Sea Eye here, as they were part of Lei Jun’s domain, not hers.
Yet her cultivation had reached Ninth Heaven Fourth Layer, and her sword had been reforged by Lei Jun.
Zongjia’s crimson Vajra Body, while strong, lacked the raw durability of Jialuotu’s green variant.
His Insight of Wondrous Observation couldn’t overcome Tang Xiaotang’s Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman either.
Despite wielding the scepter and throne, he was losing ground fast.
Though Lei Jun wasn’t physically present, his domain pulsed with Heavenly Sun True Fire, forming the Celestial Sun Ascendant Talisman and summoning a Yang Fire Tiger.
Darkness split by yellow magnetic rails burst with black lightning, unveiling the Mysterious Firmament Five Thunder Talisman and the Yin Thunder Dragon.
Dragon and Tiger united, Yin and Yang harmonized, giving rise to a Black-Red Taiji Diagram.
This was Lei Jun’s own Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, further empowered by Profound Darkness Dust and the Twin Poles Sea Eye, boosting its destructive power dramatically.
Flanked on all sides, Zongjia knew he couldn’t break free—he had to act.
Chanting a Buddhist verse, he unleashed radiant Buddha Light from his entire body.
Above his head emerged a phantasmal projection—his soul departing his body.
The projection formed the Samādhi Seal, merging with the Amitabha Peacock Throne.
In an instant, boundless brilliance lit up the cosmos, washing over all.
Though not as brute-force as the Vajra Division, Zongjia had his own unique arts.
Soul fused with throne, he manifested the Limitless Light of Wondrous Observation, illuminating all and dispelling disaster.
The light was paradoxically peaceful, not aggressive—subtle and introspective.
It rendered everything illusory.
Even Zongjia’s body and his scepter began to fade.
As the light expanded, everything seemed to dissolve.
Above Tang Xiaotang’s head, the Heavenly Heart Insight Talisman’s Eye Aspect narrowed, locking onto the center of the Limitless Light.
The Amitabha Peacock Throne and Zongjia’s soul were no longer visible—only a half-real, half-illusory lotus flower remained.
The lotus, once in full bloom, now began to close.
Everything grew quiet.
It reminded Tang Xiaotang of the Vajra Transformation Mandala during the Lotus Division’s defense of Xumi.
Zongjia sighed inwardly—if only he had his division’s Transformation Mandala, he might have been able to hold off alone. But alas, it wasn’t at hand…
Just as this thought crossed his mind, a warning shot through his heart.
A nine-segment green bamboo staff, glowing with purple-gold light, appeared.
He had never seen it, only heard Vajra Division Master Vandato mention it once.
Vandato hadn’t seen it either, only heard a disciple’s report from the Jinhan Mortal Realm—of a Confucian Grandmaster wielding a green bamboo staff that scattered evil.
Had that Grandmaster arrived?
Shocked and alarmed, Zongjia could only pray his technique would keep him hidden.
But in the silent cosmos—
The nearly closed lotus—
Was forced open once again.
With another crisp snap, the seemingly boundless brilliance that lit up the universe—like an immense yet delicate sheet of glass—shattered into pieces.
Lotus Division Master Zongjia let out a muffled grunt as his soul was torn from the Amitabha Peacock Throne, forced back into his reappearing physical body, leaving him disoriented and dazed.
Tang Xiaotang glanced at Lei Jun’s Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo, clicking her tongue in admiration. Her Tianshi Sword didn’t pause for a moment, continuing its relentless strikes at Zongjia.
Zongjia hurriedly raised the Indrakila Vajra Scepter to defend.
In the restored pitch-black cosmos, streaks of silver lightning gathered into a silver-white Thunder Dragon.
At the same time, a Pure-Gold Fire Tiger appeared around Tang Xiaotang.
The Pure Yang Fire Tiger and Pure Yin Thunder Dragon moved in perfect harmony—Yin and Yang forming a Gold-Silver Taiji Diagram, bursting with radiant light that struck in tandem with Tang Xiaotang’s Gold-Green Taiji Diagram, both smashing toward Zongjia.
Forced into a corner, Zongjia wielded the Indrakila Vajra Scepter in one hand while forming the Indrakila Seal with the other, his whole body turning into a massive Vajra Scepter, trying to endure the simultaneous attacks from all sides.
Just then, from the far reaches of the void, a tall young Daoist appeared—clad in a Nine-Colored Robe, a White Jade Seal at his waist, casually holding the Nine-Segment Green Bamboo Staff as he approached Tang Xiaotang’s side.
“Tianshi of the Tang Dynasty, Xuanxiaozi Lei Jun...”
Zongjia took a deep breath as he beheld Lei Jun with the Upper Qing Jade Celestial Bamboo in hand.
But before he could say anything, numerous swords manifested around Lei Jun.
Northern Pole Sword, Guangmo Sword, Hanhai Sword, Taiyi Severing Sword.
Though Zongjia had never faced them personally, the edge of their auras alone chilled his heart.
Then, amid sweeping waves of magnetic force, the flying swords vanished and reappeared before Zongjia, slicing through the void in a crisscrossing flurry, targeting his heavy Vajra form locked in place.
The Amitabha Peacock Throne, frozen by Lei Jun’s Black-Red Taiji Diagram, could no longer approach Zongjia.
Without the throne’s support, Zongjia became a sitting duck for the magnetic flying swords.
Back then, Vajra Division Master Jialuotu had withstood Lei Jun’s magnetic swords thanks to the vast disparity in cultivation.
But Lei Jun was now at Ninth Heaven Third Layer. Empowered by the Twin Poles Sea Eye, his magnetic swords had far surpassed their former strength.
Had Zongjia been free to move, he might have managed. But immobilized by the overlapping Dragon-Tiger Combined Strike, the outcome was inevitable.
As wave after wave of swords rained down, Zongjia could only watch as his Vajra Body and Perfect Moon Wheel shattered one after another.
He activated both Inner and Outer Lion Seals to barely suppress his wounds and attempt a final counterattack.
Unable to manifest his Vajra Body anymore, he burned his life force to once again ignite the Wrathfire of the Wisdom King.
But now, murky waters began to flow through the vast cosmos—
The Solitary Aspect Waters from Lei Jun’s Great Ascension Dao Domain, dissolving Zongjia’s flames.
Overhead, a five-colored cloud drifted, shielding both Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang.
Tang Xiaotang advanced fearlessly, slicing down with the Tianshi Sword, finally cleaving the Indrakila Vajra Scepter, now weakened, in two.
Her other hand reached forward, fingers splayed.
With that motion, the Genesis Pearl reappeared—this time centered precisely on Zongjia.
Unable to resist in his critical state, the Xumi Lotus Division Master was shattered by Tang Xiaotang’s blow!
Lei Jun stepped back slightly to avoid the blood spray.
His focus was on the Amitabha Peacock Throne.
Despite Zongjia’s demise, the Buddhist treasure continued to glow red, seemingly alive, and attempted to transform into a peacock and fly away.
Is it because the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom is still alive…? Lei Jun thought.
If left unchecked, the treasure might autonomously return to Xumi.
Handled carelessly, it could even help Xumi locate the Earth Sea’s exact position.
After a brief moment of thought, Lei Jun deployed the Eight Sceneries Treasure Mantle of Supreme Purity, suppressing and concealing the treasure.
The red light dimmed, and the peacock lost its sentience.
“Since Angqinfu didn’t make it into the Earth Sea, what’s the situation now?” Tang Xiaotang asked.
“Still unclear,” Lei Jun replied. “We’ll wait for word from Layman Zhu Junjie and the others in the Jinhan Mortal Realm.
Let’s not move for now. If you plan to return to the Jin-Song Mortal Realm, we can use the Yellow Springs. In and out quickly—and we’ll seal the portal afterward.”
In the Yellow Springs, Lei Jun could seal the Void Gateway with far greater ease than in the Earth Sea.
He retracted his Great Ascension Dao Domain, and together with Tang Xiaotang, returned to the Earth Sea.
Almost simultaneously, a Letters As Face message from Zhu Junjie in the Jin-Song Mortal Realm arrived.
Tang Xiaotang, who had rushed full-force to the dark lands of Jingxiang, hadn’t had time to check prior messages—but now began receiving emergency reports addressed to “Elder Zheng” from disciples of the Pure Yang Palace of the Song Dynasty.
Though slightly delayed, the transmissions allowed Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang to confirm the status of the Canglang and Bailu Khanates.
The Bailu Khanate was nearly annihilated—its elite force wiped out, its condition even worse than the Tang exiles.
The Canglang Khanate, on the other hand, remained largely intact.
Meanwhile, in distant Xumi—
At the summit of Mount Xumi, the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom, who had long been meditating with eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
Below the mountain, three figures looked up: Vimasha of the Buddhist Division, Vandato of the Treasure Division, and Vimasha of the Karma Division.
The Venerable said nothing at first. After a pause, he finally spoke:
“Zongjia... has run into new trouble.”
The others’ expressions changed slightly.
If Zongjia was in trouble, what about the Golden Khan, Angqinfu?
The Venerable sighed. “Jatiluo, go receive the Golden Khan on my behalf.”
The three division heads’ expressions shifted again, but quickly steadied.
Karma Division Master Jatiluo silently bowed and departed, heading toward the Void Gateway to the Jin-Song Mortal Realm.
He had barely reached the portal entrance when all of Xumi trembled—
Just like that day when Mount Xumi collapsed, and the Venerable had emerged from seclusion.
In the next instant, a foreign-looking middle-aged man appeared within Xumi.
“Jatiluo of the Karma Division greets the Great Khan,” the monk said with a bow.
Within Xumi, Angqinfu’s form no longer radiated light and heat. His aura subdued, he seemed almost mortal.
He nodded to Jatiluo. “How fares the Venerable?”
“The Venerable sent me to guide the Great Khan to Mount Xumi,” replied Jatiluo.
Angqinfu nodded again—then asked, “From your side, is there a way to reach Guizang?”
“Since the Penglai Rebellion, Guizang has been sealed for over a year,” Jatiluo replied.
Angqinfu said no more.
When he finally met the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom, his first words were:
“I’m only here to rest for a bit. I’ll head to Datong later.”
He turned to Treasure Division Master Vandato. “Zongjia said Datong is Tang territory. Can I go through you?”
“Yes,” replied Vandato.
The Venerable said calmly, “If the Earth Sea is , Datong likely won’t be much different.”
“Rest assured,” said Angqinfu. “If I can’t take Datong, I’ll go to the void. I won’t linger in Xumi.”
The Venerable didn’t respond, only clasped his hands in a formal seal.
Below the mountain, Vimasha, Vandato, and Jatiluo bowed to Angqinfu as well.
Later, a Lotus Division monk arrived in haste: Master Hasen, a noble of the Golden Khanate.
“Venerable,” he bowed to the two Immortal Realm masters. “Great Khan.”
The Venerable said, “Following Zongjia, Hasen, you will be the next Lotus Division Master.”
Angqinfu added, “If I fall in the outer void, the mortal realm will be entrusted to Haritana and you. Alata will aid you both.”
“Yes,” Hasen responded.
As promised, Angqinfu passed through the Jinhan Mortal Realm and headed to Datong.
The Han Dynasty was shaken.
The Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu and Tang Dynasty experts sealed the Void Gateway between Datong and the Jinhan Mortal Realm.
Contact between both sides was severed—for now.
Angqinfu returned to Xumi and vanished.
But he never appeared again in the Jin-Song Mortal Realm.
If neither the Venerable of Supreme Wisdom nor Angqinfu entered the Jin-Song Realm lightly, and without Zongjia, the Golden Khanate and Lotus Division no longer held an absolute advantage over Canglang Khanate.
Even so, the Golden Khanate remained the dominant force in the Jin-Song Realm—restoring its former borders and slowly encroaching outward.
The Canglang Khanate gradually withdrew. Its leader Zholigetu remained elusive, appearing and disappearing without warning.
Tang exiles struggled to survive in Jiangnan, but dared not act rashly.
Though small conflicts continued, the overall situation in the Jin-Song Realm began to calm.
In the Jinhan Mortal Realm, after the retreat of Vast Void Temple and the Demon Race, the Han Dynasty had originally been pressing the advantage.
But the shock of Angqinfu’s passage changed everything.
The imperial court’s attention abruptly shifted west.
Though no full war erupted, tensions escalated beneath the surface.
Among Han Dynasty officials, opinions on the Treasure Division of Xumi grew increasingly conflicted—respect, fear, rejection, and suspicion all coexisted.
Some began harboring secret thoughts, further complicating the already volatile situation.
Still aiding in the rebuilding of Xumi, Treasure Division Master Vandato, upon hearing his subordinates’ report, remained calm:
“It’s not what we hoped for—but now that it’s happened, we must face it with equanimity. Don’t act rashly.”
“Yes, Master,” the monk replied.
After a pause, he added: “The Lotus Division Master has fallen... to the Tang Dynasty.”
Vandato nodded. “They’ve truly become a great threat. But right now, we must first stabilize Xumi.
Though the Golden Khan knew his place and departed, his two visits still interfered with the Venerable’s rites. We must be even more cautious going forward.
At least we’ve severed their hand reaching into the Han Dynasty. Let us hope this shift brings about positive change.”
He turned away from the mortal realm and ascended Mount Xumi once more.
“If the Han Dynasty reaps good karma—then the evil seeds sown by Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion will bear evil fruit.”
“The Buddha is merciful,” the monk said, seeing Vandato off. “The Golden Khan has severed their ties with the Han Dynasty—that is a seed of virtue. Let that seed blossom, and may the Tianshi Mansion reap what it has sown.”
Tianshi Mansion of Mount Longhu – Tang Dynasty
Tianshi Lei Jun sat calmly in the Tianshi Hall, eyes closed in meditation.
His mind delved into the Dark Side of the Heavenly Book Universe.
Within the pale cosmos, shadowy dark stars pulsed like ink blots.
There lay the Dark Luminary Rahu, symbolizing Kang Ming, sect leader of Huangtian Dao, currently in the Jinhan Mortal Realm.